CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A looming vote on whether to kick Gene Chandler out of office sparked dueling Statehouse rallies Tuesday, with opponents calling for strong action against the former House speaker and supporters painting the Republican as a good man and honest politician.

“I’m just overwhelmed,” Chandler, 57, said as several dozen friends, lawmakers and residents of his Carroll County district gathered in front of the Statehouse. “These are the people who voted me in.”

The rallies were organized in response to last week’s Ethics Committee recommendation that Chandler be expelled for the rest of this term for failing to report about $64,000 he collected at “corn roasts” from lobbyists and others who do business with the Legislature.

Those who spoke at the first event called on House lawmakers not to expel the Bartlett Republican.

“Standing behind me are the people who elected Gene Chandler,” said Henry Mock, a former state representative and founder of the group that held the corn roasts. “And we think that if anyone is going to remove Gene Chandler from office, these are the people who will remove him from office, and they are the only ones that should.”

Later, a group of Chandler detractors held a corn roast of their own on the Statehouse lawn.

“It’s not enough for him to be slapped on the wrist,” said Gail Mitchell, a business owner from Barrington.

Mitchell was one of several people who stood on the grass holding “Can Chandler” stickers, a barbecue and husks of corn resting on a bench nearby.

Democratic activist Alexander Lee said the issue was about more than just Chandler.

“It’s time for us to stand up as the people and the citizens of this state and say, We want our leaders – particularly the speaker of the House – to be familiar with the rules, the ethics,” he said.

The House was to vote on the committee’s recommendations Wednesday, but Hudson Republican Shawn Jasper said he would like to put off voting for a week to give lawmakers time to read transcripts of Chandler’s testimony.

Republican strategist Tom Rath said he expected the vote to be highly personal.

“I do not think it will be a vote that’s controlled by leadership,” he said. “Without question, part of this will turn on the individual member’s knowledge of Gene Chandler.”

Chandler is in his 12th term; he was speaker from 2001 to 2004. He has said he did not believe he had to report the contributions, but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to the allegations. Chandler also decided not to seek re-election as speaker last year.

The allegations against Chandler first surfaced in September, about a year after the death of his wife. Chandler’s father died earlier this year.